The news of a new currency symbol for the Indian Rupee gives every person of Indian origin a great satisfaction. Only a few centuries back, Indian rupee was valued as much as the Dollar and Pound today. Many feel that the time has come for India to re-emerge.
Samrat Ashoke’s name is famous for sending emissaries to different parts of the country and different countries around the globe via edicts or messengers. He even sent his closest family members like his sister and brother to various places including Sri Lanka, as well as missions to Burma. It is also known that Ashoke sent a medical mission to parts of Europe with the goal to educate people about the medical healing systems of India, not only for humans but also to treat ailing animals! Many think that the idea of ‘Temaues’ of Plato originated in the Ayurvedic idea of The serpentine symbol used in medicine is also believed to have come from India. Samrat Ashoke’s time was around 300 BCE.
It is noted by some historians that a Buddhist teacher named Acharya Adho brought Indian science, culture and spirituality to Korea in the year 372 CE which later spread to Japan. It is well known how India influenced South East Asia, China and other countries in the Middle East and Europe via trade, science, mathematics and language. Many countries like Indonesia and Cambodia are still preserving some of the heritage brought to by migrants and messengers.
Only a few centuries back, Indian rupee was valued as much as the Dollar and Pound today.
All persons of Indian origin (PIO) living in any country also are in a way messengers of India and they have their foremost obligations to serve their own country. They feel connected to and sometimes obligated to India not only for their roots, but also for their unique culture and heritage. Of course, many people who never visited India or have no ancestral links to India also are in love with India. However this love and connectivity does not automatically translate into acceptance of elements which do not allow them to appreciate her, especially while dealing with administrations, systems, bureaucracies and sometimes even some people of India!
There are many reasons why these people do not feel so strongly about India. The recent spat over the surrendering of Indian passports of people who became citizens of another country did not go very well. India may assert her rules on them, but in their times of need, is India with them? Why should they care for India, other than their indebtedness for their roots and culture? They may love the land, but that does not automatically mean they love Indians of today’s generation and for that matter the power and the powerful of India. Anyway, how do present-day Indian citizens feel about and treat the PIOs from the African or Caribbean countries compared to how they treat a fellow citizen or even a PIO from a Western nation? When people of Indian origin, whether holding Indian passport or not, are in trouble or in dire need of help, do the Indians from India and other countries come forward to help? How about the Indian Government? There is plenty of scope in this area.
There are great opportunities for Indian business people to invest, develop and create wealth in various parts of the world like the Caribbean. But are Indian businesses ready to take advantage of the opportunities awaiting there, and also to work with and support local businesses to excel? These are good questions to ask. But without some realistic answers there will always remain a question mark! Global Indians have a lot to offer beyond their self interest and personal prosperities. Is there any question about it?
